Gift card trading is one of the most targeted areas for fraud in Nigeria, and a lot of traders have a story to tell. Some sent a card code to someone who disappeared. Some paid a private seller for cards that never arrived or arrived invalid. Others were pushed into paying "fees" after the first loss, on top of what they'd already lost.
The pattern behind most of these cases is the same. The scammer gets the trade out of the official app and into a private chat, where there's no verification, no protection, and nothing to hold them accountable. And they don't stand still. Every time traders learn to spot one trick, a new version shows up: a different story, a different channel, a different reason why the trade "has to" happen outside the app. Many of these scams are built to look completely normal, which is why plenty of careful, experienced traders have been caught out too.
If it has happened to you, it doesn't mean you were careless. What matters now is what you do next. In this blog, we will cover the immediate steps, the evidence to collect, and how to report it through the Tbay app so our risk team can investigate.
Which Situation Are You In?
You sent card details. You shared a card code, PIN, or photo with someone in a private chat.
You paid a private seller. You sent money for cards that never arrived or arrived invalid. This was never a Tbay transaction. Tbay only buys gift cards and does not sell them.
The steps below apply to both. The only difference is the evidence you'll include.
What to Do Right Away?
- Stop talking to the person. Don't argue or ask for a refund in the chat.
- Send nothing more. No more codes, photos, or payments, including "fees" or "deposits" to release a refund. Those requests are extortion attempts and only increase your loss.
- Don't open any links they sent. They can lead to phishing pages.
- Contact Tbay through the official app, not through a number or account someone gave you.
What to Collect?
- The scammer's phone number or account details
- Chat screenshots
- Any links they sent (copy them, don't open them)
- The time you sent the card details or made the payment
- Any related order numbers
- Payment receipts, if you paid a private seller
Before you share anything, hide card codes, PINs, passwords, OTPs, and full bank account numbers.
How to Report on Tbay?
Open the Tbay app, go to in-app support, and submit a fraud report with the details above. Don't report through WhatsApp, Telegram, or social media. Tbay doesn't offer support there, and anyone offering "help" in those places is not part of our team.
What to Expect?
A report lets our risk team investigate the account you've flagged. It is not a guarantee of recovery. Money or cards sent to a third party outside the platform can't be promised back, and Tbay doesn't offer refunds or compensation for private purchases, since we aren't the seller. Reporting still matters, because it puts the scammer's details on record and helps stop the same tactic from reaching someone else.
Staying Safe on Tbay
Every trade on Tbay happens inside the official app, using encrypted, automated systems. We never trade through private chats or social media, and any request to bypass the app is a scam attempt. Your contact details, account information, card details, and transaction history stay confidential.
Join us now
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://tbay.store
Facebook: Tbay
Tbay App: Google Play Store & App Store
